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G. W. MOORMAN,

BIER.

No. 262,683. Patented Aug. 15, 1882 WITNESSES.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WV. MOORMAN, OF EDINBURG, INDIANA.

BIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,683, dated August 15, 1882. Application filed June 9, 1882. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. MOORMAN, of the town of Edinburg, county of Johnson, and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicrs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my' said invention is to produce a bier which can be conveniently handled without lifting, and which can also be adjusted as regards size. These objects are accomplished by the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more particularly described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hrreof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of my improved biers ready for use, except that the drapings are removed; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof, one end of the frame-work being folded entirely up and also the legs of the other end; Fig. 3, an under side plan of the device; Fig. 4, a longitudinal vertical section on the dotted linear w,- and Fig. 5, a transverse vertical section, looking to the right from the dotted line y y.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the central frame-work of my improved bier; B, trucks upon which the same is mounted; (J, end frames hinged thereto; D, braces thereon, and E legs hinged to the end frames.

The frame A is a central frame of about the form and proportion shown, to which the other parts are secured. In case of very small coffins the end frames are left folded down, and this frame serves for the time being as the whole bier. It has notches or catches a a for the braces.

The trucks B are wheels of suitable size, preferably mounted to revolve independently of each other, so that the bier may be easily turned without lifting, and are faced with rubber or other elastic material, so that they shall move easily and noiselessly.

The framesO are extension-frames, by which the bier is lengthened. They are secured to the central frame, A, by hinges 0, and are adapted to fold down alongside said center, as shown by one end of Fig. 2, or to be extended, as shown by the other end of said figure and to engage with the notches a in the frame A,

preferably by the spring force of themselves. They are secured in position by staples a,

through which they slide as the frames are folded down or raised up. They are disengaged from the notches a by simply pressing them toward each other against the inside of the staples a. The legs E are common swinging legs, secured to the frames 0 by the hinges 6. They are secured in either open or folded position by the double-notched hasps e, the operation of which will be readily understood from the drawings. They may or may not have casters on their lower ends. (Not shown.)

In using my invention it is placed in position, in the church or Wherever the funeral service is to be conducted, with the coflin or casket mounted thereon. It is easily adjustable to the proper size, as one or both of the end frames may be folded up for small coffins, while for large ones both should be extended. When the time comes for removing the casket to the hearse the legs E are swung under and the bier and its load are moved easily and noiselessly down the aisles and out to the hearse, and thus dispensing with the great inconvenience and labor of handling a heavy corpse in so narrow a space as the aisle of a church usually is.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bier consisting of a central and two end frames, the latter being hinged to the former and adapted to be folded down or extended, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a bier, of the central framework, A, trucks B, end frames, 0, braces D, and folding legs E, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, in a bier, of the framework, the trucks B, and the folding end legs, E E, arranged and operating as specified, whereby said bier can first be set in position on said legs, and said legs be afterward folded up and moved on said trucks, all substantially I hand and seal, at In(lianap0li Indiana, this as set forth. 5th day of June, A. D. 1882.

4. The combination, with the folding legs of a bier, of the double-notched hasp e,where- GEORGE W. MOORMAN. [L. s.] 5 by said legs may be held securely in either their folded or unfolded position, substantially I11 presence ofas set forth. G. BRADFORD,

In witness whereof I have hereunto s:t my E. W. BRADFORD. 

